Ron the Greek on the rise again

Published: Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 30, 2013 at 12:04 a.m.

Florida-bred Ron the Greek re-established himself among the top thoroughbreds with a smashing six-and-a-half length victory in the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (Grade 1) at Belmont on Saturday.

Owned by Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber and breeder Jack T. Hammer, Ron the Greek rode the rail throughout the race under the guidance of jockey Jose Lezcano, took the lead near the quarter pole, and drew away from a stellar field of older horses and 3-year-olds.

Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice finished a distant second. The contender for champion 3-year-old was broken and trained at Niall Brennan's Brennan Stables in Ocala . Finishing third, a length further back, was fellow Florida-bred Flat Out. The winner went to the post at 21-1 odds.

Although he had won premier races last year, including the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), he had only won one race since, a restricted stakes for Florida-breds. Weakening his case with the bettors, he had only hit the board twice in his last five starts.

Flat Out, on the other hand, was going for his third consecutive victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational and went off as the favorite at 5-to-2. The winner and the favorite are both trained by Bill Mott. However, Flat Out is owned by Preston Stables LLC.

The two biggest disappointments in the race were Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who finished last, and Cross Traffic, winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Cross Traffic had somewhat of an excuse, stumbling badly at the start and running in last most of the way. He was able to pass only Orb by the finish.

Ron the Greek covered the 1¼ miles in a rapid 1:59 3/5.

The 6-year-old winner has now compiled a record of nine wins, five seconds and three thirds in 29 starts for earnings of $2,704,691. Ron the Greek is a son of Full Mandate, who stood stud at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in Ocala until this spring when he was sold to Saudi Arabia .

Full Mandate is a son of $2.9 million, Classic winner A. P. Indy, who sired 11 champions, including Bernardini, Mineshaft and Rags to Riches. Full Mandate has sired three stakes winners in addition to Ron the Greek.

The other Florida-bred in the race, Flat Out, was bred by Nikolaus Bock and went through the Ocala Breeders' Sales 2006 October Sale for $11,000 as a yearling. The 7-year-old horse has won more than $2.9 million.

Meanwhile, at Santa Anita, Mucho Macho Man struck again for owners/breeders John and Carole Rio of Ocala. This time the 5-year-old horse won the $251,250 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at 1-1/8 miles. The Rios retained an interest in the horse when selling to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.

The victory secured Mucho Macho Man a place in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and its $5-million purse.

Mucho Macho Man tracked the pace from the outside and moved to the lead with authority at the top of the stretch. Down the stretch, the 5-year-old extended his lead to four-and-a-quarter lengths at the wire.

Mucho Macho Man has now earned $2.59 million with seven wins, five seconds and six thirds in 22 starts. As a 3-year-old, the Florida-bred won the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and ran third in both the Kentucky Derby and the Louisiana Derby (G2).

As a 4-year-old, he won the Suburban Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct, followed by impressive seconds in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita.

His victory in the Awesome Again announces his readiness for this year's Breeders' Cup which is a little more than a month away.

<p>Florida-bred Ron the Greek re-established himself among the top thoroughbreds with a smashing six-and-a-half length victory in the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (Grade 1) at Belmont on Saturday. </p><p>Owned by Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber and breeder Jack T. Hammer, Ron the Greek rode the rail throughout the race under the guidance of jockey Jose Lezcano, took the lead near the quarter pole, and drew away from a stellar field of older horses and 3-year-olds.</p><p>Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice finished a distant second. The contender for champion 3-year-old was broken and trained at Niall Brennan's Brennan Stables in Ocala . Finishing third, a length further back, was fellow Florida-bred Flat Out. The winner went to the post at 21-1 odds.</p><p>Although he had won premier races last year, including the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), he had only won one race since, a restricted stakes for Florida-breds. Weakening his case with the bettors, he had only hit the board twice in his last five starts.</p><p>Flat Out, on the other hand, was going for his third consecutive victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational and went off as the favorite at 5-to-2. The winner and the favorite are both trained by Bill Mott. However, Flat Out is owned by Preston Stables LLC.</p><p>The two biggest disappointments in the race were Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who finished last, and Cross Traffic, winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Cross Traffic had somewhat of an excuse, stumbling badly at the start and running in last most of the way. He was able to pass only Orb by the finish.</p><p>Ron the Greek covered the 1¼ miles in a rapid 1:59 3/5.</p><p>The 6-year-old winner has now compiled a record of nine wins, five seconds and three thirds in 29 starts for earnings of $2,704,691. Ron the Greek is a son of Full Mandate, who stood stud at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in Ocala until this spring when he was sold to Saudi Arabia .</p><p>Full Mandate is a son of $2.9 million, Classic winner A. P. Indy, who sired 11 champions, including Bernardini, Mineshaft and Rags to Riches. Full Mandate has sired three stakes winners in addition to Ron the Greek.</p><p>The other Florida-bred in the race, Flat Out, was bred by Nikolaus Bock and went through the Ocala Breeders' Sales 2006 October Sale for $11,000 as a yearling. The 7-year-old horse has won more than $2.9 million.</p><p>Meanwhile, at Santa Anita, Mucho Macho Man struck again for owners/breeders John and Carole Rio of Ocala. This time the 5-year-old horse won the $251,250 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at 1-1/8 miles. The Rios retained an interest in the horse when selling to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.</p><p>The victory secured Mucho Macho Man a place in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and its $5-million purse.</p><p>Mucho Macho Man tracked the pace from the outside and moved to the lead with authority at the top of the stretch. Down the stretch, the 5-year-old extended his lead to four-and-a-quarter lengths at the wire.</p><p>Mucho Macho Man has now earned $2.59 million with seven wins, five seconds and six thirds in 22 starts. As a 3-year-old, the Florida-bred won the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and ran third in both the Kentucky Derby and the Louisiana Derby (G2).</p><p>As a 4-year-old, he won the Suburban Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct, followed by impressive seconds in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita.</p><p>His victory in the Awesome Again announces his readiness for this year's Breeders' Cup which is a little more than a month away.</p>